Healthy Habits For Writers Pt. 1

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Introduction

“First, if you want to write, you need to keep an honest, unpublishable journal that nobody reads, nobody but you. Where you just put down what you think about life, what you think about things, what you think is fair, and what you think is unfair. And second, you need to read. You can't be a writer if you're not a reader. It's the great writers who teach us how to write. The third thing is to write. Just write a little bit every day. Even if it's for only half an hour — write, write, write.” - Madeleine L’Engle

I think that pretty much sums up three big parts of becoming a great writer: be intensive and truthful when writing, read often, and write like it’s your job - no pun intended. Make an effort to show up daily and get the work done.

Most of us, even when not authors, write every day. We write emails, lists, texts, notes… The way writing is inserted into our lives makes it impossible for people not to write one way or another. However, these tasks usually require little to no dedication. We are already used to it, so not a lot of people invest in improving this skill.

For authors, on the other hand, writing well is a necessity. So, read below a few habits that I consider helpful and healthy for writers.

1- Write Every Day

Great authors write daily. Writing is like exercising: the more you do it, the better you become. And in some ways, it is literally a form of exercise, but one that has to do with your brain. If you stop practicing, it will be harder to find a good rhythm and/or to succeed. Like our muscles, we need to exercise our brains regularly to keep them in good shape.

Do not wait until inspiration strikes to start writing. Get out of your comfort zone and do not make excuses. Authors do not write only on the weekends or when they are in the mood. Writing is their job.

The solution for that? Add writing as a part of your routine. When you write consistently and repeatedly, you become more aware of your limitations. Once you know these pain points, it is easier to fix them.

Besides that, it also helps in finding your voice. Each author has one and it is crucial that you find yours. This is what differentiates you from basically every other author on the planet.

Lastly, if you are new to the game, start small. Maybe start by writing for 15-30 minutes a day, and then increase it until you get to a comfortable point. Remember: overworking yourself or focusing on writing is not the answer either - and it can even lead to writer’s block (read this blog post to learn how to fix that).

2- Organize Your Workspace

It will be easier to work on your story if your workplace is organized. You will only have to focus on the task at hand and not that your desk is a mess, or that you forgot to do this or that.

Create an environment that encourages you to work, not one that distracts you. I had a roommate in college who said that she could not study in our room, even at the desk, because it was right next to her bed and it would distract her. She said she would be thinking about laying down or relaxing and not thinking about studying. For that reason, she never studied in our room and always went to the library. And that makes total sense.

Some people like working on the bed or the sofa, but that’s not a good habit. You will probably end up feeling distracted and be tempted to stop writing to do something else.

3- Focus on Your Health

And when I say that, I mean both physical and mental. Create a healthy eating and sleeping schedule and pay attention to the signs from your body. Basic self-care habits will allow you to be more productive.

Do not overestimate the power your health has on your brain. When we are in good shape physically and take care of ourselves, we tend to be less stressed and work better (have more ideas, etc.).

A lot of writers suffer from migraines or backache, either because they are constantly staring at a screen or have bad posture from so many hours of sitting down and writing. Sometimes taking care of yourself is as simple as walking around the house or stretching. I have notes on my phone that remind me to take at least 3000 steps a day, so when I don’t do it, my phone sends alerts to remind me.

4- Do Not Multitask

Writing and editing should never be together, nor does brainstorming and writing or brainstorming and editing. If you are writing, you are doing that and that only. There is no point in attempting to do that while you do something else.

Multitasking is never beneficial for authors. You lose focus on the task at hand. In some professions, it is acceptable to multitask, but writing requires your full attention, so does editing. You may be able to do both at the same time, but rest assured that the quality of your work will not be as high as it would be if you were focusing all your efforts on one thing.

Stay tuned for next week’s post with more healthy habits for writers!